A beautiful hardwood floor is an asset to almost any home, and more
and more homeowners are using hardwood floors to bring warmth and style
to their home. But once you have a beautiful wood floor installed, what
can you do to make sure that it stays looking gorgeous for years to
come?
The very first thing you should know about hardwood floors is that
water is one of its worst enemies. So if any spills take place, be sure
to clean them up as soon as you possibly can. In fact, it may be a good
idea not only to wipe out the spill, but also use a wet/dry vacuum to
make sure that you get all of the moisture out of the floor.
That also means that when you are cleaning your floor with a mop,
it's best to use a very dry damp mop that will not leave any excess
water on the floor that can seep into the seams and cause problems.
To avoid the moisture problem, most often it's best to either sweep
your wood floors or vacuum them instead. Sweeping should always be done
with a very soft bristle broom, and whenever you vacuum be sure that it
is set properly for use on would floors. Do not try to use the same
setting for your carpet on your wood floors too.
Much damage can also be inflicted on a wood floor from moving objects
across the floor. From time to time we all move furniture around, but
on a wood floor you have to think very carefully before making the move.
You never want to drag furniture across the floor, as this is an
excellent way to badly damage and mar your floor. If you have to move
furniture in the room where your wood floor is located, be sure to take
the furniture up off the floor when moving, or use special furniture
pads that will allow you to glide the furniture across the floor without
leaving a mark.
Keeping dirt, sand, and grit off your floor will be very important.
So the proper use of carpeting can really help extend the life of a wood
floor. Using a floor mat at each entrance will help catch dirt and grit
as a person walks into the room instead of depositing it on the
hardwood floor. In addition, using area rugs and runners can be another
very effective first line of defense against harmful abrasive materials
that can wear down the beauty and shine of even the best wood floor. And
be sure to keep your rugs and runners well vacuumed.
If at all possible, try to keep family and visitors from wearing
shoes, or especially high heels on hardwood floors, as these can easily
do damage and cause dents.
Finally, a good practice is to install furniture pads underneath the
legs of any chairs or tables that are placed on your wood floor. They
are usually readily available at most home improvement stores or
hardware stores and are very inexpensive. That they can go a long way
toward protecting your wood floors from unnecessary damage.
None of these suggestions are hard to follow, or will cost very much
to implement. But if you put them in practice on a regular basis, you
can expect to see your wood floors continue to look bright, shiny, and
beautiful for many years to come.
Thad Pickering writes on many consumer related topics including home improvement. You can find the best laminate flooring and cheap laminate flooring by visiting our Home Improvement website.